Last British resident held in Guantánamo Bay faces another year's captivity
The last British resident being held in Guantánamo Bay faces at least another year in detention because of wrangling in a US presidential election year. Senior White House sources have said the Obama administration will not risk releasing Shaker Aamer before November. "We've taken enough hits from the right; we can't risk any more," one said. Another said: "There will be no rocking of boats from now on in."
As the 10th anniversary of the opening of the detention camp in Cuba approaches, it is believed that the foreign secretary, William Hague, has called an urgent meeting early in the new year to discuss what more the British government can do to bring Aamer home.
He will complete his 10th year in Guantánamo on 14 February, although he has never been charged or faced trial. His British wife, Zin, last saw her husband when she was pregnant with their fourth child. Aamer has never met his son, Faris.
Campaigners are stepping up efforts to draw attention to Aamer's case, after his British lawyer, Clive Stafford-Smith, found the 43-year-old former charity worker in poor health during a visit to the prison in November.
full: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/31/last-briton-guantanamo-bay-captivity
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